Hanks, Willis

Harlemite Plans English Channel Swim Willis Hanks, a 38-year-old Red Cross swimming instructor at the Harlem YMCA, trained for a summer try at swimming the English Channel. Hanks, who hopes to become the first Negro ever to swim the channel, plans to arrive in Folkestone, England, on July 23 and make his try late August…

Channel Tuesday DOVER, England, Aug. 15 – Florence Chadwick plans to start her second try to swim the English channel round trip early Tuesday with a start from nearby St Margarets Bay…at nearby Folkestone Willis Hanks, 38-year old Harlem postal clerk, from New York, said he would try to swim from Cape Griz Nez in France on Monday
16 August 1953 – Charleston Daily Mail – Charleston, West Virginia, USA

Willis Hanks, a post clerk from Harlem, New York, is hoping to enter the sea at Cap Gris Nez about 1 a.m. tomorrow. 17 August 1953 – Birmingham Daily Gazette

1953 17/08/1953. F-E. Did not start due to rough weather. Continued rough weather prevented an attempt before Hanks had to return to job in US

Hanks To Make Second Channel Assault In July New York postal worker Willis Hanks will make his second attempt to swim the English Channel in early July. The 40- year-old distance swimmer will leave the United States by plane June 30, will train in England for about two weeks before making the attempt.
July 1954 Jet Magazine

21/08/1954 F-E accompanied by ‘Wild Rose’. Started 10.15 p.m., taken out 5.15 a.m.

The failure of his friends to raise the necessary $5,000 is the main reason postman Willis Hanks might have to cancel his third attempt to swim the English Channel next month. July 1955 Jet Magazine

In the United States’ contingent will come Florence May Chadwick with plans to make the first there-and-back crossing, and Willis Hanks, from New York, who hopes to be the first American negro to be successful.
24 May 1955 – Coventry Evening Telegraph

Willis Hanks, 35, of New York hopes to be the first American Negro to make the crossing
30 May 1955 – Bluefield Daily Telegraph – Bluefield, West Virginia, USA

August 1955 F-E quit after 17 miles

1958 Hanks N. Y. Swimmer In Second Channel Try New York postman Willis Hanks, 40, who in 1955 tried to swim the English Channel but had to quit after 17 miles, announced he will try again next month to swim the 21 miles from Cape Gris Nez, Prance, to Dover, England. Hanks is being sponsored by the owners of a clothing …July 1955 Jet Magazine

August 1958? No details

Died 1972
Willis Hanks, a letter carrier here who tried unsuccessfully to swim the English Channel in 1953 and 1954, died Friday of a heart attack in Jacobi Hospital, the Bronx. He was 61 years old and lived at 818 East 22nd Street, the Bronx.

Mr. Hanks, who was said to be the first black man to have attempted the channel feat, was prevented by high tides and rough seas from entering the Channel in 1953. The next year he made three attempts. On the last he was 14 hours in the water, but bad to be taken out because he was too far off course. His fellow workers and friends helped to finance both attempts.

Swims by Hanks, Willis

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